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A Biology question

Greetings. I am in urgent need on clarification of a Biology question. In the cell membrane, how does the water molecule goes through the bilayer of phospholipid WITHOUT entering the protein pores? Since the hydrophobic end of the phospholipid creates a barrier in the middle of cell membrane, why is it able to go through, then?

Re: A Biology question

Ninja, you mentioned that the water will be able to go into the the pores of the plasma membrane, I have no problem with that. How about the center part? Water is a polar molecule, while the tail end of the phospholipid is non-polar. Polar and non-polar doesn't mix together, so how did the water molecule manage to pass through?

Re: A Biology question

Originally Posted by jameskan

In the cell membrane, how does the water molecule goes through the bilayer of phospholipid WITHOUT entering the protein pores? Since the hydrophobic end of the phospholipid creates a barrier in the middle of cell membrane, why is it able to go through, then?

To put it simply, it doesn't. It has to go via the specialised protein pores.

Re: A Biology question

At which time I would like to point out the spelling mistake in the first line, this of course means that any information you have shared now becomes irrelevant and is dismissed as not worthy.

And if anyone makes a further post that contains no spelling mistakes it will immediately be of more worth then yours, even if the offered advice is complete crap.

This may seem harsh, even anal but we must have standards, it makes some people feel superior.

There is a big difference between a typing mistake and the bad spelling and grammar that is all too often evident here.
This does not apply to you though Metla, I find your posts of high quality and I just hope that it does not make you feel superior as you suggest it could do.

Re: A Biology question

Originally Posted by Jen

To put it simply, it doesn't. It has to go via the specialised protein pores.

Well, I just found out this information from a friend of mine. The water molecules have alternative way of going in / out of the cell besides through the specialized protein. He said that the water molecule is able to go through between the two tails of the phospholipid , which explains why it is able to do so without the assistance of a protein. I am not too sure on his statement, so perhaps someone is able to pinpoint me to a link for more info on that?

Originally Posted by Jen

Hope you credit PF1 with your homework assignments.

Actually, my Biology teacher and I had an "argument" on this issue. He claimed that water molecules are not able to go in /out of the cell without the need of a protein molecule, while I was saying that it is able to do so. Yeah, sure Jen, I will say that I've got my sources from my "agents"